Man, woman hit by SUV Thursday in Wal-Mart parking lot

A man suspected of driving drunk to get a Black Friday deal at Wal-Mart hit two people who also were going for Black Friday deals, investigators said.

The driver, a 71-year-old man, was arrested for vehicular assault after deputies said he pinned a 45-year-old woman under his Mercury SUV. She was flown to Harborview Medical Center, the region’s trauma center. A man in his 40s who was with her also was rushed to Harborview.

“The man rolled up onto the hood an onto the ground,” Sgt. Cindi West said at the Covington Wal-Mart, which is about 25 miles south of downtown Seattle.

The victims were walking near the entrance when they were struck, and several people waiting to get inside witnessed the collision.

“A lot of people came to their aid,” West said. “Two deputies who were working off duty in the area came over and helped.”

West said the incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. at 17432 S.E. 270th Pl. The store, which normally stays open 24 hours, kept its regular hours on Thanksgiving, but employees were metering the number of people allowed inside to avoid being over capacity.

Investigators initially said the victims was married, but later clarified that they are not. A Wal-Mart spokeswoman told reporters at the scene that safety is the company’s priority.

Through Jan. 1, additional DUI patrols are on King County roads, funded by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Earlier this year, the state Senate joined the House in passing House Bill 2216, which increases the standard prison sentence for the crime of vehicular homicide by DUI.

West said the Thursday incident is a reminder for people enjoying holiday festivities that they shouldn’t get behind the wheel, “because we are going to be looking for those drunk drivers this time of year.”